Resurgent Daniil Medvedev Secures First Title in Over Two Years

A comeback Daniil Medvedev secured his first championship for 882 days with a win over opponent Moutet in the Almaty Open championship match.

The Russian, a former top-ranked player, has endured a torrid season, winning just one match at the major tournaments and undergoing a meltdown at the New York tournament.

Medvedev's varied form on the professional circuit - and issues with his serving in particular - resulted in him exiting of the world's top 10 and ultimately separating with former coach Gilles Cervara.

Presently collaborating with his coach and Rohan Goetzke, he has gradually improved in the last few weeks - peaking in a hard-fought competitive triumph over Frenchman Moutet.

It is Medvedev's first championship following the Italian tournament and maiden on a hardcourt after that period of the previous year.

The win also indicates he has achieved twenty-one championships at twenty-one different tournaments.

"It's the first time I have attended a tournament with my two daughters together, so to win a title is really nice," said world number 14 Medvedev.

"This title is in honour of my second daughter her name, because the first title I achieved when my first daughter my daughter was born was for her."

The tennis star, the former major winner, had failed in his last six title deciders, comprising in that event earlier this year.

The player's counter-punching play style and regular reactions on the tennis court had led some to doubt if his skill to compete at the elite level was finished.

Yet the athlete has implemented adjustments in the past month, attempting to come to the net and play assertively, reinforced by an improved service.

He recovered from a disadvantage in the opening set against the tricky opponent, taking 4 of the concluding five exchanges to go ahead.

Both players swapped service breaks in the second set before Moutet, striving for his initial professional victory, seized the initiative to force a final set.

Moutet defended four initial opportunities in a close third set before Medvedev secured a break to that score to secure the win.

Suitably, Medvedev secured the title with a rally at the front of the court, with Moutet unable to manage a shot after two hours and 38 minutes.